When the first warm breeze slips through Clinton each spring, the crew in our woodshop starts talking porches. Front porches, back decks, postage‑stamp balconies—we don’t discriminate. They’re where fireflies get watched, stories get swapped, and supper sometimes happens straight from the grill. Below you’ll find the pieces we build to make those moments comfortable, sturdy, and a little bit beautiful.
1. The Heirloom Cedar Rocker
You’ll spot these lining courthouse squares all over Tennessee. We cut each rocker from locally logged cedar, then join seat, back, and runners with old‑fashioned mortise‑and‑tenon joints. No screws to loosen, no metal to squeak—just wood on wood, sanded so smooth you can slide a cotton dress right across it.
Why cedar? It shrugs off rain, resists insects, and ages into a soft silver that looks like it’s been there a hundred summers. Keep it natural or brush on two coats of our plant‑based exterior oil if you like a richer tone.
Porch tip: Place a pair facing west and keep a small table between them for iced tea. Half the town will wave as they drive by, and you’ll have to wave back—that’s just how it goes here.
2. The Harvest Outdoor Table
We borrowed the trestle design from our indoor dining line, then beefed it up with pressure‑treated pine legs and a thick poplar top. Two breadboard leaves slide in on steel rails when company shows up—no tools required. Eight adults can sit comfortably; ten if folks don’t mind bumping elbows during the blessing.
A few owners have written to say they leave theirs uncovered year‑round in Montana and Maine. The finish dulls a bit, but the structure holds. If scars bother you, a quick sanding every other spring will make it brand new again.
3. Sunday Swing Bed
Some call it a porch swing; we call it a horizontal daydream. The frame is solid cypress—light enough to hang, strong enough for a pile of kids and the dog. We route the edges smooth, fit a twin‑size outdoor mattress inside, and knot quarter‑inch marine rope through each corner. Hang it 24″ off the decking, throw on linen pillows, and prepare to lose track of time.
Safety note: We include lag‑eye screws rated for 2,000 pounds. Drill straight into joists, not ceiling beadboard, and you’re set for life.
4. Crate Planters & Lantern Posts
Our accessories department lives for the details. Their square crate planters come from the cut‑offs of bigger projects—nothing goes to waste. Tongue‑and‑groove panels breathe so herb roots don’t stew after a storm. Between planters we like to sink a five‑foot lantern post capped with a little tin roof. Hook on a kerosene lantern, a solar light, or that fern your mother‑in‑law keeps giving you.
5. Storage Bench with a Secret
Looks like a classic blanket chest, but lift the lid and you’ll find cedar slats inside for pool towels, grill tools, or muddy sneakers. A simple stay hinge keeps the top from slamming on fingers, and narrow gaps under the lid let everything air out after a rain. Most customers place one near the door so folks can tuck things away before tracking across the living‑room rug.
Materials & Finishes: Built for Weather, Not Wishes
We don’t traffic in “porch‑perfect” veneers that peel by Labor Day. Cedar, cypress, and pressure‑treated pine form the backbone of our outdoor line because they take the beating Mother Nature hands out. Every board spends 24 hours in the kiln to balance moisture content before it hits the saw. After assembly we brush on two coats of zero‑VOC exterior oil. It soaks deep, hardens inside the grain, and never forms a film that can chip off.
Hardware matters too. Galvanized carriage bolts, stainless screws, and nylon‑insert lock nuts cost a bit more, but you only buy them once. Your grandkids will appreciate the decision.
Styling Your Space: A Few Local Tricks
- Layer the Light: String café bulbs along the rafters for glow, then add a couple hurricane lanterns on the farm table so faces stay visible after sunset.
- Mix Textures: Pair the smooth cedar rocker with a braided jute rug—bare feet will thank you.
- Use Real Plants: Plastic ivy fools no one. A pot of rosemary beside the swing keeps mosquitoes at bay and perfumes the evening air.
- Keep a Throw Handy: Tennessee nights can surprise you. Stash a cotton blanket in the storage bench; guests will linger longer.
Ordering & Shipping
Every outdoor piece is built after you click “buy,” which means we can tweak dimensions or finishes to fit your space. Lead time runs six to eight weeks from signed invoice to the day a freight driver sets it at the curb. We pre‑assemble rockers, swings, and benches so you don’t spend Saturday chasing bolts.
Shipping crates are lined with recycled carpet pads—gentle on furniture, kind to landfills. Unpack, recycle the pallet, and you’re ready for the first glass of sweet tea.
Come See Us (Cookies Included)
If you find yourself on Highway 25W, watch for the big white barn with the green roof. Inside you’ll smell cedar shavings and fresh coffee. Sit a spell, test a rocker, maybe swap fishing stories with Joe, our head finisher. We’re at 732 S Charles G Seivers Blvd, Clinton, TN 37716. Too far to drive? Call (800) 677‑1058 and talk to a human who knows the product because they built it.
A porch is a promise—of slow mornings, loud suppers, and cool evenings when nothing matters but the people beside you. Let’s build furniture worthy of those moments.